Improvement in excavators



ZSheets--Sheeill EDWARD B. MEATYARD.

Improvement inY Excavators.

VNO. 126,729. Patened WIM/14,1872IV 2 Sheets-Sheet 2..

EDWARD B. MEATYARUI Improvement in Excavatrs.

Patented May Mr, 1872.

Unrrnn FFICE.`

EDVARD B. MEATYARD, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS.

IMPROVEMENT IN EXCAVATORS.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 126,720, dated May 14, 1872.

Nature and Object ofmy Invention.

it also consists in the combination and arrange` ment of the feeding-pipe F, receivingchairiber G, supply-pipes h, sectional chambers N,and

jet-tubes; the object of this part of my inven tion being ,to conduct water or air, under vpressure, from any suitable force-pump through the several parts described, so that it will impin ge upon the surface ofthe earth to be excavated, or create a current ot' water against it with sufiicien't force to excavate it. Third, it also consists in the combination of the nut P, shaft p, sliding sleeve T, connecting-rods a', and jettubes O, the object ot' this part oi' my invention being to direct the current from the walls of the caisson toward its center. Fourth, it also consists in the combination of the adjustable bell-shaped mouth-piece Q with the dischargetube It; the object of this `part of my invention being to gather the current where it is the strongest and conduct it into the discharge-tube R; my general object being to produce the results mentioned in an effective, convenient, and inexpensive manner,and without the danger to human life usually attending other modes of sinking structures of this kind.

Description of the Drawing.

Figure 1, Plate 1, represents avertical central sectional view through the caisson A and chambers lC and D', showing the construction and arrangement ofthe mechanism connected with them, as well as the same can there be shown. Fig. 2, plate 2, represents a -top or plan view ot a caisson, with my mechanism attached. Fig. 3 represents a horizontal sectional View of the same. Fig. 4 represents a vertical sectional view of a jet-tube, enlarged and attached to one of the sectional chambers N, with a connecting-rod, a', attached to the jet-tube. Fig. 5 represents a top view of a jettube enlarged and detached.

General Description.

A represents a hollow column or caisson, provided with aflange, a, turned inward around its upper edge. B is an annular plate resting upon the flange a and extending horizontally toward the center ot the caisson,as shown in Fig. l. Upon the annular plate B, and over the ange a., a hollow column, C, is placed, and the column C andthe annular plate B are held in place upon the lcaisson A by bolts being passed through the iiange c, turned around the bottom of the column C, which bolts also pass through the annular plate B and ange a. A hollow column, D, somewhat less in height than the column C, and having a flange, d, rests upon the inner edge of the annular plate B, and is secured thereto by bolts passing through the liange d and plate B. This column Dis provided about its upper edge with an 4angle-iron, d', as shown, upon which rests the cap E. e is an angle-iron about the bottom of the cap E, through which bolts pass to secure it upon the angle-iron d. A cylindrical chamber, D', is formed by the cap E and cylinder D. The supply-tubes h enter the cap E as near the top ofthe chamber Cl as maybe convenient, and the discharge-tube R leaves the cap E at the same altitude, the depth of the cap E below the top of the chamber C being suiiicient to give these pipes or tubes a gentle curve as they pass downward, and these pipes are so constructed and connected with their lower port-ions as to be capable of being disconnected above the line of the flan ge or angleiron, e, so that the cap E may be removed, with its attachments, and allowed to rest upon its lower edge without injury to the mechanism within. The top of the chamber or cap E is tight, as are also the walls ofthe cap and chamb'er D' and of the caisson, and also the floor of the chamber C. It will be observed that thc cylindrical chamber formed by the columns within the annular chamber c' connects with the chamber of the caisson, while the chamber C' does not, and that the chamber C' has an open top. F is a feed-pipe or hose, connected to any suitable force-pump for forcing air or water into the receiver G, according as either element may be used. h are supply-pipes or hose to conduct the water or air from the receiver G to the sectional chambers N, and they have suitable bearings or supports to keep them in place. I are taps in the tubes or pipes h, to which are rigidly attached the bent levers I'. K is aba-r lying across the levers I', and small pegs pass freely through the bar K and enter the levers I', so that by operating the bar K all the taps I may be operated at once, and by removing any of the said pegs a corresponding tap may be independently operated. The sectional chambers N rest firmly upon brackets or supports N', and each sectional chamber is bored or perforated to communicate with the jet-tubes O, and a supply-tube 7L enters them. There are flattened surfaces upon the sectional chambers N, directly back of the jet-tubes O, and upon these flattened surfaces a piece of rubber, r, or other suitable packing is placed, and over this packing a plate of metal, l', which may be non-corrosive, is fastened. The trunnions of the jet-tubes rest in depressions in these plates, and a loop or bent link, l, passes over the trunnions of the jet-tubes, and is securely fastened to the sectional chamber N. By this arrangement the jet-tubes are firmly held in place, but not so firmly as not to be capable of having a vertical movement, while they are prevented from moving laterally, as will be observed by reference to Fig. 5, and it will also be observed by reference thereto, that the loops l are made in two parts, which are hinged together, so that the jet-tubes may be removed without entirely removing the loops. It will also be observed that the bore of thejet-tubes is somewhat smaller than the apertures in the sectional tubes or chambers N and plates Z', so that the j et-tubes may move in a vertical plane without obstructing the flow of water or airfrom the sectional tubes or chambers. The brackets N' are provided with projections N" to prevent the earth from crowding against the j et-tubes, but admit of the streams being projected downward, when desired. a.' are connectingrods, which are pivoted or hinged to the jet-tubes 0 at one end, and to the sliding sleeve T at the other, as shown. This sleeve T slides over keys e', which are rigidly attached to the pipe R, and these keys rest in grooves in the sleeve T, and prevent the sleeve from turning as it moves up and down, as shown in Fig. 3. p is a shaft or connecting-rod passing through the tlan ges on the sleeve T loosely, upon the lower end of' which shaft is the nut V. This shaftp passes upward through the bearing p2. The shaft p has a screw-thread run about that part of it which passes through the cover of the cap E, and a nut, P, is run upon this thread, and has a bearing on the cap E, as shown, so that, by turning the said nut, the sleeve T is raised or lowered, and the stream from the jet-tubes thereby made to move over the surface of the soil to be ex cavated toward the center of the caisson or from it, as may desired. Q is a bell-shaped tube near the bottom of the caisson, extending out so as to gather the current formed by the stream of air or water ejected from the jettubes O, and it is provided with a male screw about its upper end, which engages with a female screw upon the inner part of the band fu', which may be rigidly fastened to the tube R, so that the bell-mouth Q is adjustable therein, and may be raised or lowered by being turned. There may be also a band or belt, q, resting upon the upper part of the bell-shaped mouth Q, to which the braces Q' may be attached to keep the mouth Q and tube l from being forced upward by the pressure or current against it. The tube R may also be braced or supported, as shown at Q". This tube R may be made in sections and its part-s joined in any suitable manner. The upper end of the tube lt is chamfered off, as shown at e", to fit the chamfered end of the tube K'. G' is an accelerating-chamber into which the discharge-tube R enters, as shown. F' is a nut passing about the enlarged part of the tube R and a flange of the accelerating-chamber, as shown, for the purpose of securin g the aeeeleratin g-chamber in its place,

but it may be secured in any convenient manner. Thepipe K' also enters the acceleratingchamber, and it is also provided with a chamfered end, as shown, and it is made adjustable by means of turning the nut h' upon the thread upon the pipe K', the nuth' beingheld in placeby its contact with the accelerating-chamber upon one side, and brace i', which supports the pipe K', upon the other side, as shown. The p1pe K' is provided with keys or projections, which slide in grooves in the brace i', so that the pipe K' will not turn upon its axis. Any dischargehose is attached to the outer end of the pipe K' to lead away the matter discharged. G'" is a tubular projection entering the chamber G' and GJl is a supply-pipe connected with any force-pump, and entering the chamber or tube G'". F" is a shaft, having any suitable bearing in the tube G'", and F'" is a loose sleeve over the shaft F". Upon the inner end of the shaft F", and between the chamber G' and the tube G", may be placed a revolving current-Wheel, similar in its construction and operation to a "turbine wheel, which may be operated by the water entering the tube G'" through thc pipe G". Any gearing may be placed upon the outer end of the shaft F" for the purpose of operating a small air-pump. The loose sleeve F'" has a plug on its inner end, which tits into a. central opening through the wheel, and when the plug is in said opening said wheel revolves by means ot' the water passing about its blades; but when the plug is withdrawn the water passes through the central opening of the wheel and does not revolve it. This plug is pushed into or out of lthe said central opening by sliding the sleeve IW longi tudinally upon the shaft F". The cap E may be providedwith windows or bulls eyes to enable one to ascertain theidepth of water witliin the chamber D' and to light it. S is a tube entering the cap E, and its length within and without the chamber D' is regulated so that it will perform the office of a syphon, whendesired. It is also provided with a tap, so that it may be conveniently shut.

It will nowbe observed that the water, in passing out of the jet-tubes O, will impinge upon vthe surface to be excavated, taking with it a portion of the soil, and that the currents so x formed will unite in one streambeneath the bell-shaped mouth Q ot' the discharge-pipe R with the `upward velocity due to the head created by the force-pump above the central line of the discharge-pipe It, at its place of exit from the cap E, less the velocity it loses by carrying foreign matter with it, and by means of the currents striking each other at an angle. The force ofthe pump is suflicient to give this upward current a velocityrsufcient tocarry it up and out of the discharge-tube It. If the caisson and chambers D' should remain tight during this operation, there would necessarily be a lifting pressure upon the caisson, which may be avoided by opening the air-cock E', and if from this or any other `cause the current through the discharge-tube It is too slow or unequal, I `put the acceleratingchamber in operation. A separate force-pump is then used to force water therein through the pipe G" under such al pressure that it will pass into the chamt'ered opening. According to awell-estab-- lished principle,rthe `power or lifting force of this current is its volume into its velocity, and I can therefore regulate its force by means of the force-pump and by means of the adjustable pipe K', by increasing or diminishing the chamfer opening until the current in the dischargetuhe R has' a suflicient and uniform velocity. The revolving fan is made to operate the air-pump connected with it for the purpose of exhausting the air from the discharge-tube R, so as to facilitate the operation in the beginning. If the water passes into vthe caisson from the jet-tubes faster than' it passes out of the discharge-tube, it will find an exit through the siphonfpipe S; and when the air-cock E' is closed, the pressure within the caisson is equalized by means of this pipe.

When air is used, and ejected through the jet-'tubes O instead of water, for the purpose mentioned, the operation is the same, except in the following particulars: Free' and ample vent must be provided through the cap E for the escape of any air which, after being ejected from the jet-tubes, may arise to the top of the chamber D', and for that purpose an aircock, E', is placed in the top ofthe cap The end of the siphon S within the chamber D is bent upward, so that the iniiux of water through it, to replace thatexpelled, may not be impeded by the upward current created by the passage of air outside of the'pipe R. The

siphontube will supply the water as fast as it is discharged, or may be made to do so, according to its size, it being understood that its exit from the chamber D' is of the same or a greater altitude than the exit of the dischargepipe It. rIhe water, being agitated by the air' from the jet-tubes O, will be thrown into a current like that produced by water ejected therefrom, and will carry the water and sand out of the discharge-pipe R in the same or a similarl manner. The acceleratin g-chamber G' and the chamber or receiver G are each provided with an ordinary safety-valve, g' and g, for the purpose of keeping the pressure below any given protected by the walls C. When the caisson is sunk until the walls O are near the waterline the cap E with its ixtures is removed, and another section added to the walls C and D, and the cap E is then placed thereon, in a manner corresponding to that already described and shown, a corresponding section being added to the tubes 71J and It, and to the connectingrod p.

By making the chambers or tubes N in independent sections, andby supplying them eachwith one of the pipes, h, I am able, by

`1neans of the taps I, to create a current in one direction on1y,as may be desirable when the caisson is sinking the iirst few feet in a stream having a current suflcient to create a scour upon one sideot' the caisson and bank up the sandnponthe other side. By means of connecting-rods p and a', operating as described,

After the caisson is sunken it is lled or loaded in the usual Way, the operating parts being rst removed, as well as the walls above the caisson, if desired.

It will be observed that my operation is directed from the top, thus avoiding the usual danger to human life attending other modes of accomplishing the same results, and that I effectually accomplish the other objects set forth above by means of the mechanism and its operations above described.

.The caisson may be of any desired shape suitable for the purpose for which it may be designed, and any number of sectional chambers N of corresponding shape, as well as any number of jettubes, may be used.

It may also -be here stated that the cap E may be provided with a trap-door, E", in its cover, as shown, over which any suitable air lock may be placed, so as to enable a person to descend into the caisson Without changing the pressure. within.

13"' is an aperture through the cap E, which may be tightly closed, and through which air or Water may be conveyed either into or out of the caisson, when necessary or desirable, and the cap E is packed about all its openings so as to render it as nearly air-tight as possible.

I do not here claim the jet-tubes O or the accelerating-chamber G', except in the combinations with which they are included in the mechanism herein particularly described, and I have herein described their construction with particularity only to show their operation when included in such combinations.

Claims.

Having described the construction and opera-tion of my invention, what I claim, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

l. The combination of the caisson A, brackets N', and projections N", as and for the purposes described.

2. The combination and arrangement of the pipe F, chamber G, and" tubes h., provided with taps I, with the cap E, as and for the purposes set forth.

3. The. combination of the tubes 7L provided With taps I and the sectional chambers N pro vided with jet-tubes O or their equivalents, substantially as and for the purposes specified.

4. The coinbinationot the shaft 19, sliding,` sleeve T provided with grooves for the passage of the keys e', keys e', and connectingrods a', when the latter operate verticallyswinging jet-tubes O, substantially as and for the purposes specified.

when operating substantially as and for the I 'purposes described.

6. The combination of the discharge-tube It, accelerating-chamber G' provided with the supply-tube G", the adjustable tube K', and cap E, when operating as and for the purposes specified.

7. The combination of the sectional chambers or tubes N, provided with jet-tubes O or their equivalents, brackets N', projections N", and caisson A, substantially as and for the purposes set forth.

8. In combination with the caisson A, the pipe F, chamber G, tubes h, provided With taps I, and the sectional chambers or tubes N, when the latter are provided with jet-tubes O or their equivalents, as and for the purposes specified.

9. In combination with the caisson A, the shaft p, sleeve T, and connecting-rods c, when the latter operate jet-tubes, substantially as and for the purpose specified.

10. In combination with the caisson A, the bell-shaped mouth Q and discharge-pipe R, as and for the purposes specified. v

1l. In combination with the caisson A and discharge-tube R, the accelerating-cha1nber G', provided with a supply-tube, G", and adjustable pipe K', substantially as and for the purpose described.

EDWARD B. MEATYARD.

Witnesses:

FnANcIs F. WARNER, A.' T. HEMINGWAY, H EINR, F. BRUNs. 

